Page 16 of Feral: Part One

“This pack gets to leave. They said they’ve been working toward it.”

“That’s not how Wolfscorge works,” Riley says, an urgent edge to her tone. “It’s a lifetime appointment. Did no one tell you that?”

“What the fuck?” I rasp, burying my head deeper beneath the blankets. “They said if I was rehabilitated…”

“They really didn’t tell you anything?” Riley’s voice breaks, a mix of pity and frustration hitting me. “Slate, you can’t rehabilitate a feral. You’re not just an Omega anymore. You’re one of the newer designations.”

“No, that’s just because…” I trail off because this is all news to me. “What are you talking about?” Unlike most places, Veltmoor doesn’t allow their Omegas to see their files. I’ve never really understood my medical history, just what the doctors and nurses share with me. I could be dying and not know it because we’re only afforded information they think is necessary.

“Listen to me. I thought you knew all of this, but because we couldn’t talk about it here, I never brought it up. Slate, you are aFeral, a newer designation, or species, if you will. It’s not something that heals with time or bonds. You can manage the biological aspects, but that’s it. As for getting out of there, I’ve never known someone to get out, let alone contact outside of Wolfscorge. Calling Veltmoor means that all of this shit is connected.”

“A new species?” My voice cracks becausewhat the actual fuck?

“It means you’re different,” Riley whispers. “Slate, I don’t know what’s going on but something is happening here and I guess there? But some of the symptoms you’re exhibiting aren’t just a result of the bond removals. It’s almost like you’re part of some experiment. When I found out which family you were put with, it just solidified that none of this is random or accidental.”

“What family?”

“Lowden.”

I cringe at the name of a family I remember being in the news years ago.That’swhere I remember Malik from because The Lowden heirs had been all over TV. They had tried to take down their fathers’ company from within with the help of a few others. Weapons were involved, someone got hurt and then it was like they just disappeared.

And now I’m stuck with them.

“Fuck.” Because what else is there to say.

“I know you remember all the news stories but they’re not dangerous because of all that. I’m pretty sure they’re dangerous because they were right. Same reason why I think there’s a reason they’re fucking around with you. I don’t know why Wolfscorge wants you bonded again, but be wary. Stay safe, okay? I’ll call again if I can. Can I call this phone?”

“Yeah, this one’s mine.”

“Good. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to reach out, but I will.”

She hangs up and I just sigh, hoping to find some relief here. My body is still achy and hot, my hands moving across my belly to find myself bloated again. It’s always bad after a spike but it’s never this bad. I tried eating what Malik brought the second time around but that ended up in the trash, my stomach churning at the thought of food.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I’m not just feral butaferal, a designation that I didn’t even know existed. Sleep pulls me under, exhaustion taking over until I finally grasp a bit of peace.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t last, the door to the pool house slamming open, heavy footsteps moving through the room before stopping at the edge of the bed. “Did this fucking Omega just build a den?”

My eyes snap open, my body reacting to Kael’s voice immediately. I almost whine for him but manage to keep that embarrassing sound down. Unfortunately, slick gathers in mybriefs against my will, a sudden need for this Alpha to fill me making it hard to stay safe in the darkness.

“Slate, get the fuck out here. We have a problem.”

I slowly crawl forward, looking up to see Kael standing there, disappointment in his expression. Kael yanks me up to my feet, a moan tearing from my throat. His eyes darken, his nostrils flaring. “What the fuck is this?” He points to where I came from but I couldn’t really explain it if I tried.

“It’s mine. Leave it.”

Kael barks out a laugh, tightening his hand around my arm. “Yours? You’re in my house, Omega, and you’re making a fucking mess.” A wild, deviant smile spreads across his face. “You’re spiking again, aren’t you? I can smell it.”

I flush as my body betrays me. “I don’t need you.”

“Liar,” he murmurs, his voice dripping with heat. “You need me, need my knot, don’t you? But you’re not getting it, not like this.”

I whimper, the sound involuntary, needy, and I hate it, hate him, hate the bond that makes me want him, makes me feel him. I almost blurt out the fact that we’re stuck here but it’s a secret I want to keep and unveil when it’ll hurt the most. “What’s going on?” I finally ask when I realize that neither one of us is going to break.

“What’s going on is the fact that the fucking council would like evidence of us breaking you in. So, congratulations, you get to step into the main house. Fuck with my Omega and I will make sure you hurt in a way you don’t like.” His nostrils flare at the end of his sentence, his blue eyes dark enough to just be a void of rage.

I merely nod, unable to step out of line with his temporary bite in my shoulder. No other Alpha has been able to make me submit, make mewantto submit. I’m not entirely convinced it’s because we’re mates.

Slate

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